[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification,
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations
Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Robert Menendez,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 21-35,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Oman for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $385 million. After this letter is
delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to
notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 21-35
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Oman.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $185 million.
Other $200 million.
Total $385 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Forty-eight (48) AGM-154C
Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW).
Non-MDE: Also included are Dummy Air Training Missiles;
Captive Flight Vehicles (CFVs) and/or Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATMs); Environmental Determination Test Vehicles
(EDTVs); Free Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission
planning; integration support and testing; munitions storage
security and training; weapon operational flight program
software development; transportation; tools and test
equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts;
publications and technical documentation; personnel training
and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (MU-P-AAF).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: November 9, 2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Oman--Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW)
The Government of Oman has requested to buy forty-eight
(48) AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW). Also included
are Dummy Air Training Missiles; Captive Flight Vehicles
(CFVs) or Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs);
Environmental Determination Test Vehicles (EDTVs); Free
Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission planning;
integration support and testing; munitions storage security
and training; weapon operational flight program software
development; transportation; tools and test equipment;
support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and
technical documentation; personnel training and training
equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $385 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a friendly country that continues to be an
important force for political stability and economic progress
in the Middle East.
The proposed sale would increase the Royal Air Force of
Oman's ability to secure Oman's borders, airspace, and
territorial waters. This expanded capacity will be a force
multiplier and help negate regional security threats. Recent
attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman have increased Oman's
need for weapons that enable it to defend its territorial
waters and ensure freedom of navigation. Oman will have no
difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and
Defense Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual
trips to Oman involving U.S. Government and contractor
representatives for technical reviews, support, and oversight
for approximately seven years.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-35
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The AGM-154 JSOW is used by Navy, Marine Corps, and Air
Force, and allows aircraft to attack well-defended targets in
day, night, and adverse weather conditions. The AGM-154C
carries a BROACH warhead. The BROACH warhead incorporates an
advanced multi stage warhead. The JSOW uses the Global
Positioning System (GPS) Precise Positioning System (PPS),
which provides for a more accurate capability than the
commercial version of GPS.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures that
might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Oman can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and
national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Oman.
____________________